THE Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) is set to return to the Norwegian capital June 3-5 for its 16th edition since 2009. The lecture series, organized by the New York-based nonprofit Human Rights Foundation (HRF), will bring together humanitarians, artists, tech entrepreneurs and world leaders to shine a light on the state of human rights around the world and spark conversations about how to expand freedom amid technological oppression and politics. Speakers include exiled Nicaraguan journalist Carlos Chamorrofounder of the Trauma Research Foundation Dr Bessel van der KolkAnd Jack DorseyCEO and co-founder of Block.
The conference will feature high-level discussions with those on the front lines defending human freedom as well as workshops to provide activists with tools in the pursuit of social liberation. Authoritarianism in the Global South will be of particular concern, both in the context of illiberal government regimes and in the context of the complicity of globalized markets and supply chains, which, according to the FRH websiteoften lead to the exploitation of forced labor and resource extraction.
In a statement to Bitcoin Magazine, Christian Kéroles, Director of Financial Freedom at FRH, highlighted the importance of censorship-resistant money to support freedom. “The Oslo Freedom Forum is an important gathering for freedom fighters from around the world to come together and plan how to extend freedom to more people. The Human Rights Foundation is committed to sharing how Bitcoin and freedom technology can empower these courageous activists in their resistance to tyranny.
Bitcoin as a bulwark against digital authoritarianism
The OFF “Financial freedom” trackscheduled for June 5, will explore the imperative of open source software, namely Bitcoin, for dissidents to resist authoritarian regimes that aim to financially destructure and censor the opposition.
In partnership with HRF, Bitcoin Magazine will broadcast the exclusive livestream of the OFF Financial Freedom Track through X (Twitter), Youtube, LinkedIn And Facebook.
“The price of Bitcoin, while a signal of adoption, is not what matters. Ultimately, Bitcoin Magazine considers freedom as our North Star,” said Bitcoin Magazine President Mike Germano. “We believe in a world enabled by Bitcoin, where individuals have the power to express themselves financially or otherwise. We are proud to partner with HRF, a leader in this dialogue, and bring these conversations to our global audience of over 12 million Bitcoiners.
Today, financial repression is increasing. The deployment of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), increased financial surveillance and the confiscation of wealth by outright (and most surreptitious) means inflation) has made protecting financial freedom more important than ever.
The Financial Freedom Track will feature leaders in the Bitcoin ecosystem, including:
- Jack DorseyCEO of Block
- Abubakar Nur KhalilNigerian programmer, CEO of Recursive Capital
- Farida NabourémaCo-founder of the Africa Bitcoin Conference
- Mogashni NaidooCo-founder of the Bitcoin Design Foundation
- Craig Brutfounder of Sparrow Wallet
- Lyn Aldenmacroeconomist and author of “Broken Money”
- Matt Odellmanaging partner of Ten31, co-founder of OpenSats
- StreetCreator of open source software, Creator of Cashu
- Jack Mallersfounder and CEO of Strike
The full list of speakers and agenda for the Financial Freedom Track can be found at Oslo Freedom Forum website.
Financial privacy – the final frontier
Bitcoin, as an open ledger visible to all participants, broadcasts all transactions globally. Given this inherent visibility, preserving the privacy of senders and recipients is of critical importance to those who oppose oppressive regimes. The 2024 OFF Financial Freedom track logo displays a visualization of a Bitcoin coin – a method of anonymously facilitating Bitcoin payments, drawing attention to a focus on anonymity as a cornerstone of freedom .
This year's Forum will take place against the backdrop of a new crackdown on Bitcoin privacy tools. Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, founders and CEOs of the privacy-focused Samourai Wallet and Whirlpool coinjoin service, were recently arrested and charged with money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Following the arrest, the FBI issued a statement warning Americans against using non-KYC (Know Your Customer) cryptocurrency transmission services. This position suggests that financial oversight is quickly becoming an explicit goal of regulators in the cryptocurrency space.
Given the non-proprietary nature of Samurai's Whirlpool software, the arrest could set a dangerous precedent for digital freedom. According to Bitcoin Magazine contributor L0LA L33TZthis could potentially lead to “KYCing any service leveraging communications protocols, from Nostr to WiFi hotspots and telecommunications providers… Internet KYC projects have existed since 2014, when the US government attempted to introduce a “driving license for users”. Internet,” similar to the planned introduction of digital identities to the world.
The seriousness of such a trend cannot be underestimated. Digital privacy, especially in the context of Bitcoin, is becoming the area where authoritarian-minded actors have focused their attention.
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